“… be renewed in the spirit of your mind…” Ephesians 4:23
A New Year calls for a paradigm shift in some of our mindsets! Particularly for those such as I who come from a church generation that encouraged ‘zipping of the lip’ when it comes to expressing longstanding thoughts and opinions birthed from a not so pleasant past.
First off, my new years resolution in 2006 is to add fresh thought much oftener to this page. I apologize for contributing to your ‘tired of finding the same old thing’ feeling when visiting our website. In fact, I predict that this site will soon contain a link to my personal blog site. I am excited about the outlet it will provide for my overworked mind!
Blogs hold a certain fascination for me. In fact, the word blog itself, the first time I heard it, was, to my religious mindset an ugly sounding word. I definitely had to undergo an extreme paradigm makeover in order to grasp the concept of blogging. The baring of one’s soul on a worldwide level is rather cautionary and somewhat scary to say the least. But at the same time it is a great way to find out the whys and wherefores of what people think and how they think it. To be sure we all think and express our thoughts differently.
For instance, my age changed on New Years day! It has done so every year since I was born! My oldest son emailed me a birthday greeting from across the world and this is what he said about his mother:
“Only a non-conformist would choose to be born on New Years day. I admire you mom…you continue to break the mould. Happy Birthday.”
It took a minute of contemplation but I humbly admit to feeling flattered at his perception of me. It was somewhat of a relief to finally wear a label:
“Meet my mother, the mould breaker”.
I have generally dared to be different in the spirit of my mind. I firmly believe that God is disappointed when we waste the residual power of our mind on narrow mindsets. Sometimes he uses people like me to rattle another’s cage, even if it leads to toppling ‘traditional apple carts’. We are talking about old mindsets that hide behind what they call ‘convictions’. Jesus chided the Scribes and Pharisees for that very mindset. He said it clearly to them: “ You have been taught many things, but I have come to tell you something different.” In other words: “Listen up, boys! You have heard it said, but now I say unto you . . . it’s time to have a paradigm shift, guys. Things have changed. ”
Read all about it in Matthew 5.
Greta….it amazes me to see which part of the “river” you live in. Continuously in the “DEEP”!
The flare you have with words, always seem to embelish my spirit with wonderment,challenges and those “awe” moments that can change a life. God has painted you with you with unique brush strokes, & I for one admire His handywork.
I appreciate the history of our friendship,so I say….”FOREVER” would not be long enough to know you !
Blessings galore in your new venture of “blogging”….the world needs you so !
I love you best……
…..”ALWAYS” !
Michelle
Hi Greta; I wondered what blogging was. Thanks, now I know. I think this will alow me to get to know my Aunt in a whole different way. That, I look foward to. Love Lauri
Welcome to blog world, mom. Yet another one to consume my obsession with reading blogs. First Jordan, then Lowell, a few friends and now you. Will it never end……(sob)
Faith
Greta,
You continuously challenge me and I am so thankful for you.
I had not heard ‘blog’ before. It rather sounds like it would be a character or creature out of Star Wars. So, now I know what a blog is. Way to go, Greta, once more stepping out of the boat.
The Lord has given you a wonderful mind and keeps filling it with awesome thoughts. God Bless you for sharing those thoughts with us and challenging us to step outside the safety zone of conformity. Keep rattling our cages.
Belated Happy Birthday!
Love Sheila
Hi G.G. Just got home from church, and lunch out with some cool folks God has plunked into our live’s. Can not believe you are years older then me, but yet you learn, and stretch more then most folks my age..Continue growing younger..
Regards Roland
Hi Greta! I always love it when God’s children want to talk deep. Psalm 42:7 Says when …deep calls unto deep….. and deep to me is very special. In the depth of our souls we bare a world of truth and trust in these things we call blogs. Depth is where the greatest stirrings take hold and begin to really move us on to greater and deeper thoughts that lead to understanding what SELAH really means. Thank you so much for stirring my spirit to see the greater things that God wishes for us all. In this verse it also talks about the water spouts. I really truly believe that there is a tremendous washing poured out on us as we share God’s depths with one another. I am so greatful for your words in these things you call blogs..carryon Greta for the spreading of more of God’s SELAH thoughts that we can all savour.